Fitz-Greene Halleck Quotes

Lord Stafford mines for coal and salt,
The Duke of Norfolk deals in malt, The Douglas in red herrings.

Come to the bridal chamber, Death! Come to the mother’s, when she feels
For the first time her first-born’s breath! Come when the blessed seals
That close the pestilence are broke,
And crowded cities wail its stroke!
Come in consumption’s ghastly form,
The earthquake shock, the ocean storm!
Come when the heart beats high and warm, With banquet song, and dance, and wine!
And thou art terrible!—the tear,
The groan, the knell, the pall, the bier,
And all we know or dream or fear Of agony are thine. But to the hero, when his sword Has won the battle for the free,
Thy voice sounds like a prophet’s word;
And in its hollow tones are heard The thanks of millions yet to be.

Green be the turf above thee, Friend of my better days!
None knew thee but to love thee, Nor named thee but to praise.

There is an evening twilight of the heart,
When its wild passion-waves are lulled to rest.

One of the few, the immortal names, That were not born to die.

Such graves as his are pilgrim shrines, Shrines to no code or creed confined,—
The Delphian vales, the Palestines, The Meccas of the mind.

This bank-note world.

Strike—for your altars and your fires!
Strike—for the green graves of your sires! God, and your native land!

They love their land because it is their own, And scorn to give aught other reason why;
Would shake hands with a king upon his throne, And think it kindness to his Majesty.